Can-opener.



' 0.1a. WADE.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1908.

91 2,212 Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

CHARLES ANDREW WADE, OF OOFFINTON, GEORGIA.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

Application filed July 20, 1908. Serial No. 1%,389.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES ANDREW WADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coffinton, in the county of Stewart and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Can-Opener, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to can openers, and has for its object to provide a device of that kind which will simultaneously cut the opposed longitudinal sides of oblong cans such as used for packing fish and the like.

One object of the invention to construct a device simple in structure, embodying but few working parts, such as will not have a tendency to become deranged, and a device comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, which will operate to remove the cover from a can in considerable less time than with the method just described.

\Vith these and other objects in view as will more fully hereinafter appear the present invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the device may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device showing the parts in working position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the cutter inverted.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. l, the device is shown as consisting of a base plate 1, which may be formed of wood, metal or other suitable material, substantially retangular in marginal contour and provided at one end with an integral split lug 2 disposed at substantially the longitudinal center of the base and the function of which will appear later.

The upper face of the base is provided with a plate 3, either cast integral with the base, or otherwise secured thereto. This plate is considerably less in width and length than the base 1, and is intermediately disposed with respect to the longitudinal sides of the latter, and having one end flush with that end of the base 1 opposite the lug 2. The plate 8 is centrally provided with an oblong seat a, open at one end adjacent the lug 2 and conforming to the shape and of a size sufficient to conveniently hold an ordinary oblong can e. Suitably secured to the opposed longitudinal sides of the plate 3, with their lower edges resting upon the upper face of the base 1 are the vertically disposed guide plates 5 and 6; these plates are preferably formed of sheet metal and are slightly less in length than the plate 8, and adjacent their upper edges are each provided with a longitudinal slot 7, extending from a point in a plane with the closed end of the seat 4: throughout the entire length of the plate 3; the lower wall of each recess is provided with a depression 8 adjacent one end and in a plane with the open end of the seat 4, the function of this construction will presently appear.

The cutting mechanism in the present instance is shown to consist of a hand lever 9, one end of which is adapted to enter the split lug 2, and provided with an opening for the reception of a suitable bolt or rivet by means of which it is pivot-ally secured to the base 1. The cutter proper is shown to consist of a flat piece of metal or other suitable material, having an elongated tapered shank portion 10, terminating in a flaring iead 11, on the opposite sides of which are formed arms 12 and 13, these arms are of a diameter to slidingly fit within the slots 7 the construction being such that the distance between the terminals of the arms will be equal to the distance between the opposed outer faces of the plates 5 and 6. In order that the cutter may more easily move within the guides, the arms are provided with rollers 14. Formed on the lower face of the cutter and in a plane with the arms 12 and 13 is a downwardly projecting lug 15,

.of a length slightly less than the width of the seat 1, this lug forms a means for securing the cutter blades to the cutter, the former bemg three in number secured to one face and the opposite ends of the lug. The long blade 16, or that secured to the front face of the lug is of a length equal to the length of lug and of a width slightly greater than the width of the latter so that when it is secured in position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the cutting edge will project beyond the lower edge of the lug while the outer face will be in a plane with the edge of the head 11. The side blades l'i and 18 are each the shape of a right triangle and their perpendicular sides of slightly greater length than the width of the blade 16 so that when they are secured to the opposite ends of the lug 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the vertexes will project beyond the edge of the blade 16, and their slant sides face the shank portion 10. The free end of the shank is reduced in thickness and adapted to enter a longitudinal slot 19, formed in the lever 9, to which it is pivotally secured by means of a bolt or rivet 20 the construction being such that when the lever is moved on its pivot the cutter will move in the direction of the length of the base 1.

In the use of the device the canto be opened is placed within the seat a and the rollers on the arms 12 and 13 inserted in the open ends of the slots 7 and brought directly over the depressions 8. It will be observed that the construction is such that when the parts are in the position just described the rollers will be held out of the depressions S, by the points of the side blades 17 and 18 contacting with the cover of the box; by now striking the boss 21, formed on the upper'face of the head portion 10 of the cutter, the points of the blades 17 and '18 will puncture the metallic cover of the box and the blade 16 will be brought to bear upon the cover, further pounding on the boss 21 will result in forcing the blade 16 to form a transverse opening at one end of the box and bring the rollers 1st into the depressions S, the structure being such that the depth of the latter will be slightly greater than the distance from the edges of the side blades to the edge of the blade 16; by now forcing the lever in a direction towards the opposite end of the can the roller arms will leave the depressions 8, and the edge of the blade 16 will be lifted clear of the cover, while, owing to the width of the recess s 7 the points of the side blades will be held within the can, so that further pressure on. the lever will force the side blades towards the opposite end of the can and result in cutting the cover.

It is obvious with a device of this kind much time and labor can be saved while the danger of injury to the hands of the operator is reduced to a minimum.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A can cutter embodying a base, pro-. vided with a seat, guides secured to said base and disposed on the opposed sides of said seat, a movable cutter mounted in said guides, and a means connected to said base and adapted to reciprocate said. cutter parallel to said base.

2. A can cutter embodying a base, having on one face a plate provided with a seat; guide plates on the opposed sides of said plate provided with slots, a movable cutter having arms disposed within said slots, and a means connected to said base and serving to reciprocate said cutter parallel to said base.

3. A can cutter embodying a base plate provided with a seat; guide plates disposed at the opposite longitudinal sides of said seat, a horizontally movable cutter carried by said guide plates, a lever movably secured to said base and'having pivotal connection with said cutter.

at. A can cutter embodying a base plate provided on one face with a seat, plates on the opposed sides of said seat, each provided with a longitudinal slot, a horizontally movable cutter provided with lateral arms adapted to enter said slots, and a lever having one end pivotally secured to said base, and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to said cutter.

5. A can cutter embodying a base plate, provided on one face with a can holding means, guide plates disposed on the opposed sides of said can holding means, a lever pivotally connected to said base and a horizontally movable cutter having lateral arms fitted to said guide plates, and a tapering shank pivotally connected to said lever.

6. A can cutter embodying a baseplate provided with a can holding means and a pair of oppositely opposed guides, a horizontally movable cutter fitted in said guides, and provided on one face with a lug, a plurality of knives carried by said lug,,a lever having one end pivotally secured to said base and an intermediate portion pivotally connected to said cutter, the construction being such that when the lever is rocked a reciprocating movement will be imparted to the cutter.

7. A can cutter, embodying a base, a horizontally movable cutter carried by said base, a lever secured to said base and serving to actuate said cutter to simultaneously cut the opposite sides of a can cover.

8. A can cutter embodying a base, provided on one face with an oblong seat, a horizontally movable cutter carried by said base a lever pivotally secured to said base, and serving to actuate said cutter to cut the opposed longitudinal sides of a can cover when held by said seat.

9. A can cutter embodying a base provided on. one face with a seat, a pair of guide plates disposed on the opposed sides of said seat, each being provided with a longitudinal slot the floors of which are provided adjacent one end with diametrically opposite depressions, a cutter having arms adapted to enter said slots, and provided on one face with a lug, a knife blade secured to one side of said lug and a knife blade at either end of said lug the edges of which project beyond the plane of the first named blade, the construction the slots, the first named blade will be below the plane of the box cover to be cut, and when the arms move out of the depressions the said first named blade will be carried above the plane of the cover, a lever pivotally secured to the said base and serving to move said cutter as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHAS. ANDREWV WADE.

Witnesses:

WV. B. WILLIFORD, M. WALTON. 

